Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Wettest Way to Die: Showers of Doom

SO... when I read André Dumas' recent post on The Horror Digest about her penchant for taking showers instead of baths, I did agree that taking a bath - at least in a horror movie - seemed to be a bad idea.

HOWEVER, I think most will agree that taking a shower really doesn't provide any more protection from death and other ghastly things. In fact, as much as I enjoy a nice, steaming hot shower, I will be the first to admit I am a little shaky when the curtain is closed and the whole place steams up like a sauna room at a men's club. Who knows what lurks outside the curtain? Actually, I think we DO know.

At least with a bath I am completely aware of what is going on. Everything is right there out in the open. If I'm going to be offed in my bathroom I think I'd rather see the killer coming so I can fend him off by... I don't know...kicking him in the crotch with my feet or maybe setting his hair on fire with my soothing lavender candle.

In the shower, you're so damned vulnerable. Not only are you naked, but you've got a curtain or door to contend with, and no doubt some damn shampoo in your eyes. All the sudden AHHHH! The curtain flies back and you're stabbed like a piece of beef on a shish kabob. No time to even grab your back scrubber and poke your attackers eye out!

In horror, the shower will be forever immortalized as a great place to die, thanks to the brilliance of Alfred Hitchcock and a little bit of Hershey's syrup.

So with André's blessing, I give you showers of doom:

Arachnaphobia

My Bloody Valentine

Carrie

Dressed to Kill

Death Ship

Final Destination

Friday the 13, Part VIIIJason Takes Manhattan

Friday the 13th

House 4

In the Folds of the Flesh

Jack Frost

A Nightmare on Elm Street 2

Phantom of the Paradise

Pulse (1988)

Room 205

Saw 3

Pieces

Blow Out

The Cell

The Grudge

The Seventh Victim

The Funhouse

The Prowler

True Blood

Zombi 2 (aka Zombie Flesh Eaters)

(...and then the eye jab)

Psycho

I think I've proved my point.
Then again, maybe it's just best to avoid the bathroom altogether.

8 comments:

When I read the title, I immediately started thinking of "Death Ship". Even though I did not find the movie itself to be particularly good, that shower scene was really memorable. Glad to see you included it, along with some classics such as the "Psycho" one as well. Excellent, thorough post.

yes, it's true that you're vulnerable, but ever since i started watching horror, i've worked on some self defense techniques specifically for the shower, and if i ever get a chance to make a horror film, i'll be illustrating the fact that we can all survive a shower slashing, and even get out of the house alive

Atroxion: Ah, Death Ship. It's been years since I saw it but that shower scene is burned on my brain...

Jorge: Anxious to hear your shower tips. Where were you when Marion checked into the Bates Motel?

Andre: Yeah, just thinking about that scene from Arachnaphobia makes me cringe, and I'm actually not terribly scared of spiders.Thanks for letting me steal your idea and put my own touch to it:)

Mike: To be honest, the first time I saw that shower scene from Phantom of the Paradise was in a movie called Terror in the Aisles, which is basically clips from horror films. I saw that plunger and cracked up - knew I immediately had to see that film!

Pax: I DO have a lock on my bathroom door, and I'll have you know it IS locked... EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Shocks are so much better absorbed with the knees bent...

We Wrote That:

*Christine Hadden is the creator, editor, and head writer of the Rondo-nominated blog Fascination with Fear and has been an obsessed horror fan for longer than many of her readers have been alive. She can overlook movie plot holes in exchange for style and atmosphere, rejects both the 3D and found footage phenomenons, values high gore content when done right, always prefers practical effects over CGI, and has an undying love of vampires. She considers Norman Bates her homeboy and claims Jaws as her favorite film. She has written for Fangoria and Paracinema magazines, MoviePilot, and Eli Roth's horror app The Crypt. She enjoys Kentucky bourbon and red, red wine. But not together.

Contributing Writer

*Marie Robinson is an aspiring folklore expert, published writer, and obvious old soul from St. Louis, MO. She considers Roman Polanski one of her favorite directors, The Sentinel among the scariest of films she's seen, and has read both Algernon Blackwood and M.R. James - making her wise beyond her years. In her spare time, she enjoys wandering through misty cemeteries, seeking knowledge and proof of paranormal activity, and prepping her next frightening short story. Besides Fascination with Fear, she contributes to Destroy the Brain and has written for Eli Roth's horror app: The Crypt.